Editorial: Louisiana should keep college graduates

Louisiana is producing more college graduates than it can put to work, and that's worrisome, especially since only 21 percent of Louisianians ages 25 to 64 hold a four-year degree or higher -- a lower percentage than in the South and the nation as a whole.

G. Andrew Boyd / The Times-PicayuneLouisiana is producing more college graduates that it can put to work.

His conclusion: The state needs to steer more people into community and technical colleges. "We're producing a workforce that we cannot employ in Louisiana,'' he told the commission.

But Louisiana needs to employ that workforce. The state doesn't have too many educated people. Instead, it has a shortage of jobs that will attract and keep college graduates. Fortunately, that's how members of the Louisiana Postsecondary Education Review Commission seem to view the issue.

Recent Census statistics back up that position. Louisiana lost more than 2,500 college graduates between 2007 and 2008, one of only eight states that recorded a net loss of college-educated residents age 25 and older. The brain drain has long been a pattern of economic life in Louisiana, and it's discouraging to see it continuing.

Louisiana does need to meet current labor demands, but the state should focus on those residents who don't have any post-secondary training or education to beef up enrollment at community and technical colleges. Moving people from low-skilled, service-industry jobs into more skilled occupations such as welders and carpenters will help those residents and the economy.

Saying Louisiana has too many college graduates "is like telling a rich guy he has too much money,'' said commission member Artis Terrell. But rich guys only stay rich if they can hang onto and grow their money. Louisiana needs to work on holding onto this source of wealth.